Indian Forest ServiceServices Awareness Day

P. Raghuveer IFS

Addl.PCCF/DirectorAndhra Pradesh Forest Academy

Outline of Interaction

• Indian Forest Service - History• National Scenario• AP Forest Department• Innovative Practices

Indian Forest Service

The Beginning….• During the year 1864 the then British India

Government started the Imperial Forest Department

• Dr. Dietrich Brandis, a German Forest officer posted as Inspector General of Forests in 1866.

• Imperial Forest Service was constituted in 1867 to mange the varied natural resources and to organize the affairs of the Imperial Forest Department, 

Initial Training….

• The Imperial Forest Service Officers were trained from 1867 to 1885 in France (Nancy School) and Germany (Hanover).

• From 1885 to 1905 they were trained at Cooper's Hill, London

• From 1905 to 1926 - training at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh

FRI….

• The Imperial Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, was established in 1906.

• FRI had trained IFS officers from 1927 to 1932 – No demand for training after that

• The subject of "Forestry" which was managed by the Federal Government was transferred to the "Provincial List“ - 1935

• Recruitment to the Imperial Forest Service -discontinued.

IFS Officers Trained (1867-1932)

Sl No

Where Trained No. ofOfficers

1 Nancy School, Germany 25

2 Hanover, France 72

3 Cooper’s Hill London 173

4 Oxford University 203

5 Cambridge University 55

6 Edinburgh 38

7 Dehradun 14

Grand Total 580

Training at IFC…

• The Indian Forest College (IFC) was established in the year 1938 at Dehra Dun

• Officers recruited to the Superior Forest Service by different provinces/states were trained there - thus retaining the all India character of the service.

Independent India….• 1947 - the princely states merged with the

parent State Provinces, resulting in steep increase in Forest area in many of the provinces.

• It was challenging to reorganize the services due to entry of ex-princely States personnel into the Forest Services of parent province.

• Most of the personnel of the Indian Forest Service of British Origin left India with the remaining opting for premature retirement by 1949.

Independent India….• Some of the officers were retained in Pakistan • The main brunt of managing the forests of India

was left to the handful of Indian Forest Service Officers of Indian origin and those in the Superior State Forest Service of different States.

• The Indian Forest Service, was constituted in the year 1966 under the All India Services Act, 1951 by the Government of India.

• Serving members of the State Forest Service were inducted into IFS and designated as "Initial Recruits" 

Changing Mandate of the Forest Service

• Scientific management of the forests to exploit it on a sustained basis for primarily timber products. - 1938

• Large tracts of the forest were brought under state control through the process of reservation under the Indian Forest Act,1927

• Forestry shifted to the concurrent list in 1977- Federal Government plays an important role - at the policy level in the management of the Indian forests.

Shift from Production Forestry..1976

• National Commission on Agriculture –Sustained yield to be in tandem with biomass needs of the people

• Increase extension activities through social forestry

• Equal thrust to habitat management in protected area and conserving the biodiversity of the land.

• Species Conservation approach• People’s Participation

Composition - 3034 IFS Officers• Direct Recruits: 66.33 per cent of the cadre

strength of IFS is filled by Direct Recruitment done through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

• National level competitive examination open to graduates with science background.

• Successful candidates have to appear for a personality test, a walking test – 25 km / 14 km and a standard medical fitness test.

• Promotees: 33.33 per cent of the cadre strength of the service to be filled from State Forest Service.

“Mens Sana In Corpore Sano”

Sound Mind In a Sound Body

MOTTO OF INDIAN FOREST SERVICE

Latin - from Satire X of the Roman poet Juvenal 

• It is to be prayed that the mind be sound in a sound body.• Ask for a brave soul that lacks the fear of death,• which places the length of life last among nature’s

blessings,• which is able to bear whatever kind of sufferings,• does not know anger, lusts for nothing and • believes the hardships and savage labors of Hercules better

than the satisfactions, feasts, and feather bed of an Eastern King.

• I will reveal what you are able to give yourself;• For certain, the one footpath of a tranquil life

lies through virtue.

• Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_sana_in_corpore_sano

For IFS Officers – What It means

• "mens sana in corpore sano" is a sharp call for personal perfection;

• Finding limits and moving beyond them;• Bash on Regardless - Attitude• Never Give Up or Give In - Orientation• Developing a powerful and beautiful

personal presence• Leaving behind a Green Handprint.

Forest Management

National Forest Policy 1988 envisages

• Improving Tree Cover• Checking soil erosion in catchment areas of

rivers, lakes, reservoirs• Increasing Forest Productivity• Involving people in greening India• Greater thrust on forestry extension,

education, research and training• Strengthening network of Protected Areas

NFP - on funding forestry sector4.16 Financial Support for Forestry

• The objectives of this revised Policy cannot be achieved without the investment of financial and other resources on a substantial scale.

• Such investment is indeed fully justified considering the contribution of forests in maintaining essential ecological processes and life support systems and in preserving genetic diversity.

• Forests should not be looked upon as a source of revenue. • Forests are a renewable natural resource. They are a

national asset to be protected and enhanced for the well-being of the people and the Nation.

Scientific Management through Working Plans

• Instruments for state forest departments for scientific forest management.  

• Prepared in a phased manner all over the country.

• A document which gives complete information related to the forest area.

• The Government of India has issued a uniform Working Plan Code to all the State Governments.

JFM / Community Forestry

• Taken firm roots in the country since 1990• A two-tier decentralized setup • Forest Development Agency (FDA) at the

forest division level and • Joint Forest Management Committee

(JFMC) at the village level.

Legal Framework

–The Indian Forest Act 1927–Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 –The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 –The Forest (Conservation) Rules 1981 –Biological Diversity Act 2002 –Biological Diversity Rules, 2004–The Scheduled Tribes and Other

Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

Protocols and conventions signed by India

– Earth Summit Rio declaration– Agenda 21 – Johannesburg Declaration– Convention on Biodiversity– Ramsar Convention– Cartagena Protocol– Convention to Combat Desertification– Montreal Protocol – Vienna Convention– Kyoto Protocol– United Nations Forum for Climate Change

Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy

Dehradun

http://www.ignfa.gov.in

S No. Level of officer Recruiting Agency

Place of training Duration of Training

1 Indian Forest Service Officer(Appointed directly at Distt level)

Union Public Service Commission

IGNFA,Dehra Dun

24 Months (including 4 months’ Foundation course in General Administration)

2 State Forest service Officer (appointed directly at sub distt level)

State Service Commissions

CASFOSDehra Dun, CoimbatoreBurnihat,

24 months

3 Range Forest Officer(Appointed directly at Range level, 3-5 per distt)

State Agencies Coimbatore,Kurseong,Hyderabad,Haldwani, Balaghat

18 Months

4 Dy. Ranger / Forester State Agencies Respective States

10-12 Months

5 Forest Guard State Agencies Respective States

5-6 Months

Training of Forest Officials in India

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Indian Forest Service officers’ training- Content

Theory classes37%

Practical classes

9%

Field Tours34%

Field Exercieses

20%

63% Practice oriented

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In-Service Mid Career Training of IFS officers

SERVICE

7-9 years - 8 weeks, includes 2 weeks theme based foreign visit–USA, Sweden,1 week general management

rest of the training at IGNFA Dehradun

16-18years - 8 weeks, includes 2 weeks theme based foreign visit–USA, Finland, 1 week general management

26-28 years - 4 weeks, includes 2 weeks theme

based foreign visit– USA, Canada

1 week general Management

Organisation Chart of MoEF (Forest & Wildlife Wing)

Special Secretary

Minister (Env. & Forests)

Secretary (Env. & Forests

Director General of Forests & Special

Secretary

ADG (FC) ADG (Wildlife)

- IGF (EAP)

AIG (EAP)- IGF (FC)

Director (FC)

AIG (FC1)

AIG (FC2)

AIG (FC3)- DIG (FP)

AIG (FP)- DIG (FPD)

AIG (FPD)- DIG (S&U)

AIG (S&U)-FSI- DIG (RT)

AIG (RT)- Regional Officers

- IGF (WL)

DIG (WL)

JD (WL)- IGF & Dir. Project Tiger

Addl. Dir. PT- IGF & Dir. PE- Member Sec. CZA- Regional Officers (WL)

State Forest Administration

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)

Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF)

Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF)

Conservator of Forests (CF)

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF)

Asst. Conservator of Forests (ACF)

Forests Ranger (FR)

Deputy Ranger (DR)

Forester

Forest Guard (FG)

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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE (Headquarters) – Andhra Pradesh

Special Chief Secretary, EFS&T(Special Secretary Forests,

Special Secretary Environment)

Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests (HOFF)

Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)

Addl. Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests - Subject heads

Addl. Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests – Subject heads and Circle in charge

Chief Conservators of Forests (9), Conservators of Forests(3), Dy./Asst. Conservators of Forests (15)

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Organizational Structure (Field - AP)

Beat (FBO, ABO) : 2574

Section (FSO) : 858

Range (FRO) : 220

Division (DFO) : 52+57=109

Circle (CCF/CF) : 12 +15 =27

Sub Division (SDFO) : 56

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Broad Mandate

• CONSERVATION, PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF FORESTS AND WILD LIFE

•ASSISTING THE FOREST DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES

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Forest Protection52 Forest Divisions with over 4000 staff

Regular patrolling of the forest by the protection staff

All vulnerable beats are inspected twice in every 6 months & all other beats twice a year

15 Flying Squads & 3 Vigilance Parties

State level Forest Protection Committee (under chairmanship of Chief Secretary)

District level Forest Protection Committees (under Chairmanship of Dist. Collectors)

NRM in AP

Forest map of

Andhra Pradesh

Mangrove Forests, Godavari Estuary

Mangrove Forests, Krishna Estuary

Teak Forests in Godavari Basin

Misc. Forests, Eastern Ghats

Red Sanders Forests,

Nalla Mala Forests, Tiger Reserve

0.40 lakh ha

2.60 lakh ha

1.70 lakh ha

Main Interventions• Artificial Regeneration• Aided Natural Regeneration• Bamboo improvement• Integrated forest protection strategies• Biodiversity Conservation measures• Improve tree cover outside RF• Support – R&D, ICT, Capacity Building• Fund source : CAMPA, FDA, 13th FC, NREGA

Area under CFM36%

Other forest area 64%

Total geographical Area 275.07 Lakh ha

Total Forest Area 63.42 Lakh ha

Area under CFM 22.89 Lakh Ha

Status of CFM in Andhra Pradesh

Total membership:15.39 Lakh

SCs: 20 %

STs: 31 %

Women membership:48%

VSS at A Glance

• Total No. of VSS : 7992• Average Area under management: 300Ha.• Average Membership : 164 per VSS.

State wide Forest Inventory

Forest Type Area in ha covered by Inventory

Volume in cum

Dense Forest 28,30,933 1705.33 lakh cum

Open Forest 19,49,823 561.50 lakh cum

Scrub Forest 4,89,890 76.91 lakh cum

Total 52,70,647 2343.74 lakh cum

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State wide Forest Inventory Species Common name Volume in

mcum

Anogeissus latifolia Tirumanu 18.48Xylia xylocarpa Konda thangedu 14.50Terminalia tomentosa Nalla maddi 13.76Lannea coromandelica Gumpena 12.49Tectona grandis Teak 12.44Madhuca india Ippa 10.48Dalbergia paniculata Pachari 9.37Hardwickia binata Narepa 9.07

THRUST AREAS FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE

PARTICIPATION All stakeholders

CO-OPERATION All Departments, Agencies

SPECIALISATION Skill enhancement of FD staff

Inter Departmental Issues• Land – Revenue ; Reservation ; Pattas• Forest Produce – GCC, Panchayath• Developmental activities – ITDA, Revenue, RD,

Irrigation, R&B• Wild Animals – Animal Husbandry• Encroachment – Agriculture, Electricity,

Revenue• Regulation – Judiciary, Industries, Police

Innovative programs At a Glance (1/4)

1. Relocation of Blackbucks in Kurnool Circle

2. Biodiversity Conservation Lab in Srisailam

3. WL case investigation – Paderu (spider), Achampet, Gooty (saphire blue tarantula of guntakal), Sand Boa smuggling racket (Hyd Anti poaching squad)

4. Star Tortoise rehabilitation

5. Peafowl breeding centre

6. LACONES work

7. Counselling system for transfers of staff

At a Glance (2/4)

8. Central nursery and TDC concept

9. Clonal production

10.Tissue Culture – Teak and plantations

11. Promotion of Subabul Plantations in Prakasam and Krishna Districts

12.Dog Squad for Red Sanders protection

13.“APFA – We Don’t Train People We Transform Them”

14.CEFNARM (Autonomous society)

Some More Innovative Practices (3/4)

15.Forest Inventory16.Use of RS, GIS for forest fire

management17. Use of RS, GIS for locating water

harvesting structures18. Annual vegetation cover monitoring using

RS, GIS and GPS19. Bamboo based livelihoods – agarbatti stick,

furniture – Adilabad Circle20. Carbon credit sale in Kagaznagar division21. Adda Leaf processing and marketing –TTD

Continuing with Innovative Practices

22.Revival of Kolleru WLS and return of migratory birds

23.Marketing of Eucalyptus pulp by APFDC

24.Assessment of standing growth of Eucalyptus plantations by APFDC

25.CAFÉ – Children And Forest Education

26.Setting up of Environment Cell in APFD and its activities – APEC network

Ishopanishad – Need for RWH* “Akashat Patitam Toyam

Yatha Samrakshayati Bhumiparam

Thatheva Sarvatra Krishmit Krishwa

Idameya jeevanam shreyasam

Bahujana Manyaha” • Whatever water falls on earth from sky If it

is conserved suitably above and below the earth surface, it may be available everywhere for all living beings – be it Plants or Animals.

*Rain Water Harvesting

praghuveer84@gmail.com